Community of Santegidio

Religious people, communities and institutions were often the first to recognize the pain and suffering the disease caused, for individuals, families, and societies. Saintly nuns and volunteers of many sorts cared for the sick and dying...

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI voiced support Wednesday for political actions around the world aimed at eliminating the death penalty, reflect...

The meeting was a message of hope: Despite the realities of violence and economic crisis, peace, prosperity, and a rich and meaningful culture are within our grasp.

For 25 years, the Community of Sant'Egidio has organized an annual gathering of religious and lay leaders from all corners of the world. Peace is the theme and the event has the character of a pilgrimage.

Mozambique's success generated an energy for peace. We sensed that we could engage in similar processes in other places. We saw that we, ordinary people coming from ordinary ways of life and communities, could work for peace.

This week, more than 300 religious leaders -- cardinals, bishops, metropolitans, patriarchs, rabbis, imams, sheikhs, monks and nuns -- met in Barcelona to preach a message of peace.